Kinswood Academy: Dressage Queen

Chapter 14:

I had the whole stable to myself, since everyone was either at school or at home. the horses had already been taken care of, fed, groomed and put back outside.

I changed into the spare riding clothes I always kept in the locker in the tack room and grabbed a red lead line, making my way to Big Stride and Bliss' paddock.

Big Stride did what looked like a double take when I opened the gate. His mouth was stuffed with grass, making me genuinely smile for the first time today. He left Bliss' side and trotted over to me, his ears pricked forward.

I rubbed his stark white blaze and clipped the lead line to his halter. Big Stride pranced once he was out of the paddock, pulling me toward the barn before I had a chance to even close the gate.

" No boy... " My voice was quiet and hoarse from crying.

Big Stride halted instantly and turned to look at me.

I shut the gate and climbed up the fence until I was sitting on the top. I gently pulled him back towards me and swung myself onto his back. " I hope you've done this before. I'd really hate to end up in the dirt after the morning I've had... "

Big Stride snorted and started to prance in place. I felt myself tense when I realized I couldn't get him to focus on the bit when he wasn't wearing a bridle. he started to crow hop and I had to grab a chunk of his mane to keep myself from falling off.

" ...Maybe this was a bad idea... " I started to move to dismount, but as I did, Big Stride stopped. He craned his neck and nibbled at the toe of my boot.

That's when I realized why he had been acting that way.

I was digging my heels into his sides, squeezing with my legs but also pinching with my knees and keeping a tight grip on the lead line. I forced my body to relax and imagined I had a saddle on, removing the spurs on my boots, which I had forgotten to take off and put them in the pocket of my sweater. I rubbed Big Strides neck.

" I'm so sorry boy...I was treating you like Tracy- " I bit my tongue to keep myself from thinking about what tracy would do to him. It would only make me tense all over again. 

I gently clucked Big Stride forward and he gratefully started toward the back trail at an excited walk.

Once we were out of sight of the stable, with the tall trees shielding us from the hot sun and the birds chirping as they flew overhead, I loosened the lead line, letting it hang over his neck as I laid back, laying my head on his croup, picking a few leaves off low hanging branches.

" ..Tracy wants to buy you boy... "

Big Stride snorted as he shook out his mane.

" I don't like it either...and I'm so sorry boy. I'm trying, I really am...but its hard when everyone is against you... "

I sat up and sighed, feeling my eyes start to well with tears again.

Big Stride picked up a trot as he splashed through a puddle that had formed from the pouring rain late last night.

" I know we had a rough start, and I know I quit on you before, but this time I mean it when i say I'm never going to quit on you ever again... "

As we broke out of the forest to a meadow, I halted big stride and slid off his back, removing the lead line and halter from him.

" Now I want to try something...so please don't run away... " I told him half-jokingly. 

I spun the lead rope around, almost like a cowboy as I clicked him on, watching as he circled around me at a trot. I smiled, letting him trot around me for a few circles before I clucked him on into a canter. We did this in both directions before I dropped the lead rope and turned my back to him. I heard him stop and after a few seconds I felt warm breath on my neck and saw Big Strides head over my shoulder in the corner of my eye. I turned and put a hand on his velvety soft nose, feeling him lean into my touch.

" And Dubois said join ups don't work... " I giggled to myself.

Big Stride whinnied, almost like he was trying to laugh with me.

I stepped forward and stood on my tip-toes to wrap my arms around his neck. big Stride helped me by putting his head down, nudging my back.

I knew then that our meeting was more than a coincidence. I was almost like...destiny. Destiny that he came galloping out of that barn that first day. Destiny that he was the first horse that I saw after my deal with Dubois. Destiny that, after a rough start, we become a team.

" ...You're the only horse for me boy... " I whispered in his ear. He nickered, as if whispering back to me.

With one final squeeze I let him go and put his halter and lead rope back on. It was more of a struggle to mount him this time with nothing to stand on to help against his almost 18 hand high frame, but I managed.

Wedding go back to the barn right then, instead I decided to take the long way back, enjoying the scenery and the company.

Since I had no idea if this would be our last trail ride together....